Improvement in illuminating vault-covers



T..HYATT. I'Ilukminating Vault-Covers. I N0. 145,193. l l l Patented Dec.2,1873'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

THADDEUS HYATT, OF NEY YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T() ELIZABETH A. L. HYATT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATING VAULT-COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,193, dated December 2, 1873; application filed October 2Q, 1373.

. section of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In the use of metal vault-covers, sidewalkplates, &c., great inconvenience, and frequently injury, result from the rapid wear of the surface exposed to the abrasive action of dust beneath the feet of pedestrians, said surface soon becoming' smooth, slippery, and unsat'e. To remove such worn plates and replace them with new ones is quite expensive, while in streets where much travel is had the interruption to traffic, while such renewal is being made, is so great as to cause the use of unsafe plates long after their condition has rendered them dangerous.

To remedy these objections is the design of my inventioinwhieh consists, principally, in a vault-cover, pavement-plate, cc., provided with a detachable bearing or wearing surface, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter speciied. lt consists, further, in avaultcover, pavement-plate, Sac., provided with a detachable bearing-surface, and having interposed between the same and said cover or plate, rubber 01' other elastic material, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

Although my invention is equally applicable to any metal plate which forms a support for the feet, its use and advantages will be suieiently illustrated by showing its application to one form of plate.

In the annexed drawing, A represents a metal frame for inclosing the upper side of a coal-vault, within the center of which is a circular opening, B, that receives and is inclosed by means of a cover, C, all in the usual manner. NYithin the upper side of the frame A is provided a depression, n., which has any desired depth, and receives a metal plate, l), which, when in position, restores the surfaceline of said frame to its usual appearance.

The plate l) is secured to or upon the framev A by screws or other suitable means, and is provided upon its upper surface with knobs, studs, or buttons (l, or is, in other suitable manner, roughened, so as to furnish a irm4 foothold, the design being to cause said frame to present the usual appe:-u'anee and bearing-surface.

When the surface of the plate has become smooth through wear, said plate can be removed and replaced by a new one in a few minutes of time, at a small cost, without interruption to tral'lic, and without in any manner disturbing the frame or main plate. The last-named advantage is especially important from the fact that the resetting of vault-cover frames and similar plates would cost many times the value of the same, such an operation rendering necessary the tearing' awa)v and replacing of more or less masonry.

Although the detachable bearing-plate is, preferably, placed within a recess in the main or foundation. plate, it can be made to cover the whole surface ofthe latter, if desired.

The bearing-surface can be made elastic, if desired, by placing a rubber gasket, F, between its lower surface and the main plate, in addition to which result the usual hollow sound experienced in walking over solid metal plates will be prevented by such addition.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what l claim as new n l. A vault-cover, pavement-plate, Sac., provided with a detachable bearing or wearingsurface, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A vault-cover, pavement-plate, &'c., provided with a detachable bearing-surface, and having interposed between the same and said cover or plate, rubber or other elastic material, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, 1873.

THADDEUS HYATT. lVitnesses AMBnosE MONELL, CHARLES Srvn. 

